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The Doctor's Office
Arizona
> Northern Arizona
> Oak Creek Canyon
> Cave Springs
Description
The Doctor's Office is a narrow corridor between two large fins of rock that houses a bunch of fairly new bolted lines (and a few trad and mixed lines as well). The Pharmacy is the upper part of the same corridor (blocked off by a huge chockstone) that is easily accessed via a rebar ladder. The southern wall is generally vertical to slightly overhanging and offers pocketed and edgey sandstone climbing on less than perfect rock. The northern wall has mostly slabby climbing on black rock. This area gets all day shade and remains cool even in the summer heat.
Getting There
Located down below The Book of Friends. Drive to the well-signed Cave Springs Campground (2 miles from the bottom of the switchbacks) and park. Walk to the bridge just in from the entrance, and from the northwest corner of the bridge locate a trail that heads NW up a small hillside in the direction of the obvious Book of Friends dihedral. This trail skirts around the hillside and then follows the edge of a wash all the way up into the corridor. Hiking time is about 10 minutes.
[Hide Comment] Be aware: it should be at least 85 degrees in Sedona to climb at the Doctor's Office. It is in a narrow slot canyon, creating a swamp-cooler effect. If it is 90 in Sedona, the DO will be a perfect 75 degrees.
NOTE: PLEASE WAIT A DAY OR TWO TO CLIMB AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AFTER A RAIN!
The area is sandstone, and becomes brittle when wet.
Jun 2, 2008
[Hide Comment] Walking for those Sedona towers is over-rated. A short jaunt to the Dr's Area & RX is certainly worthy and can provide some nice shade.
Heads up about bringing pooches to the crag. The trail is OK but the nature of the base, large blocks and 4th class scrambling is pretty difficult even for the experienced rock hound.
Routes can be a bit sandy.... but that said not much traffic and, well, they are sandstone.
Jun 4, 2008
The original hand-drawn topo has been replaced with an up-dated one. Additionally, most routes have sandstone plaques at the base giving the rating of the route by number (not letter (i.e., 11-,11,11+)
Also, bring your Red Rocks Pass or display a golden eagle, access pass, or other NF pass. There is no ticketing, but warnings have been issued!
[Hide Comment] As a pharmacist, I would like to thank the developers of this area. The topos are great and the routes look awesome. I can't wait to jump on all routes I can, especially my namesake. And, the America the Beautiful pass is a great deal at only $80 for unlimited entrance to all national parks.
Aug 21, 2011
[Hide Comment] Kevin, the line is there to lower stuff out, not to rap on. The cans are there from early developers who stored their equipment in them. They were washed out from their stash spots during the monsoons.
Oct 24, 2012
[Hide Comment] There's a route on the north wall that tops out (I'm guessin it's ~180' tall) with a register. Unfortunately the register is totally soaked.
[Hide Comment] Hey Kevin I believe you are thinking of Super Party Hero. A Rodman/Raber/et.al. route. Something in the .12 range with some aid moves. I could track down a hilarious topo for you...
Mar 17, 2016
[Hide Comment] Hell yeah The People still climb here. At least a few of the people do... Sandy as ever. Still a great hang for the warm months and if you like a bit of horror while clipping bolts.
Dec 16, 2016
[Hide Comment] Approach info: Purchase a Sedona Red Rock pass for $5. We got ours at a gas station in town. Continue driving north on the 89A as if you were going up to Flagstaff. Look for the Cave Springs campground on the left side. Pull into a small lot on the right, immediately after turning into the campsite. Head up the paved road towards the campsite. You'll come across a small bridge over the creek. Go to the far side of the creek and follow the bank 25 feet to the based of a hill. Scramble up this hill (15 feet) and follow the trail that parallels a wash. Watch out for sharp bushes and cacti. There are times the trail is hard to follow. When in doubt, continue up the wash towards the large slot canyon on the left. We saw a smaller slot canyon on the right but that's not the Doctor's office. From the time you leave the bridge to arriving at the crag, it'll be a steep 15 minutes of hiking.
Apr 24, 2017
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Grass Valley, CA
NOTE: PLEASE WAIT A DAY OR TWO TO CLIMB AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AFTER A RAIN!
The area is sandstone, and becomes brittle when wet. Jun 2, 2008
Joshua Tree
Heads up about bringing pooches to the crag. The trail is OK but the nature of the base, large blocks and 4th class scrambling is pretty difficult even for the experienced rock hound.
Routes can be a bit sandy.... but that said not much traffic and, well, they are sandstone. Jun 4, 2008
Grass Valley, CA
The original hand-drawn topo has been replaced with an up-dated one. Additionally, most routes have sandstone plaques at the base giving the rating of the route by number (not letter (i.e., 11-,11,11+)
Also, bring your Red Rocks Pass or display a golden eagle, access pass, or other NF pass. There is no ticketing, but warnings have been issued!
Erik Wolfe Jun 21, 2008
Flagstaff, AZ
Westminster, CO
Which route is this? Mar 17, 2016
Flagstaff, AZ
I believe you are thinking of Super Party Hero. A Rodman/Raber/et.al. route. Something in the .12 range with some aid moves. I could track down a hilarious topo for you... Mar 17, 2016
Fayetteville, NC
Flagstaff, AZ
Purchase a Sedona Red Rock pass for $5. We got ours at a gas station in town.
Continue driving north on the 89A as if you were going up to Flagstaff.
Look for the Cave Springs campground on the left side.
Pull into a small lot on the right, immediately after turning into the campsite.
Head up the paved road towards the campsite. You'll come across a small bridge over the creek. Go to the far side of the creek and follow the bank 25 feet to the based of a hill. Scramble up this hill (15 feet) and follow the trail that parallels a wash. Watch out for sharp bushes and cacti. There are times the trail is hard to follow. When in doubt, continue up the wash towards the large slot canyon on the left. We saw a smaller slot canyon on the right but that's not the Doctor's office. From the time you leave the bridge to arriving at the crag, it'll be a steep 15 minutes of hiking. Apr 24, 2017